Their fur is uniformly colored either red-brown or gray-brown. Cougars have many common names, owing to their wide distribution across the Americas; several well known names are mountain lion, puma, catamount, ghost cat, and panther. Contact ODFW's Public Service Representative at: odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov 541.382-2616 | Bend office There are currently no Action Alerts for Oregon. J. Wildl. Visit the ODFW's agency site. Fur was the first natural resource to be recognized and exploited in what is now Oregon. (1994). Ten years later, despite larger than ever mortalities caused by ODFWs Post-Measure 18 sport hunting policies, the Department ramped the population estimate up to 5,000 cougars. Cant find what you need? Proactive management of cougars may include intensive, administrative removal of cougars in targeted areas where zone specific criteria have been met.. hb```f``2e`a` B@16 x(=Ah{?!z[7}d}x 8|EU|===}=YY].N4 tzkS#%JM6vB'^SL!;mZ+P[asFNR 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Oregon News; 2, possibly 3 cougars reportedly sighted in western Lane County, sheriff says . ContactODFW's public service representative at odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov. Cougars can kill livestock and family pets. Within the U.S. cougars only exist in large enough numbers to maintain viable breeding populations in the western states. Read the latest edition of the Klamath Falls Herald and News. 18, 2020, 12:29 p.m. Cougars on the coast must navigate a very different terrain dense forests where Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer dont cover as much ground, where the undergrowth tangles and ensnares, where towns cluster near the ocean and cities sprawl in the valleys. hbbd``b`$~ $"'@ '"A 8$d CHLxd# `4 endstream endobj startxref 0 %%EOF 350 0 obj <>stream Regulating harvest, health, and enhancement of wildlife populations. Cougars are hunted in Oregon on a quota basis. Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? Oregon's Cougar Management Plan requires a minimum population of 3,000 cougars, but has no upward ceiling or limit on the cougar population. This summer, people reported multiple cougar sightings near downtown Tigard, a city of more than 48,000 outside of Portland. Food Habits of Cougars in Oregon. Maps; Peavy Arboretum; Recreation Management; Visitor Information; Volunteer Information; Research. As a result, sport-hunting related cougar mortalities have increased to record highs despite the ban on using hounds. While a number of factors have caused their decline, research within Oregon has shown that cougars can have a significant impact on deer and elk populations in some areas. Cougar sightings and encounters are rare, according to the agency, but sightings have increased. ODFW Home | Driving Directions | Oregon's Cougar Management Plan requires a minimum population of 3,000 cougars, but has no upward ceiling or limit on the cougar population. Generally, treatment of wildlife in the State of Oregon is governed by theOregon Revised Statutes the states collection of all the laws passed by its legislature. South Dakota: 300 - 500 South Dakota successfully reintroduced mountain lions in recent years. To address these problems, the 2006 Oregon Cougar Management Plan created a tool for wildlife managers known as a cougar target area. This is an area where ODFW staff or agents reduce the cougar population over a three-year period. Box 1896 Remove heavy brush from near the house and play areas. - Do not run. Broman calls the Alsea area the front range of cougar expansion.. ZgHo4d49-h|xU&E& s!.E Wf+K"wPp phy>dCgTdYk*+-R4 All past reported sightings were at night or around dawn, which is within Oregon safety standards. While there is a general, statewide season for cougars, there are quotas set by zone. They prefer large prey, primarily deer, but will consume smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines, and raccoons. Install motion-activated light outdoors along walkways and driveways. Broman said that because cougars are territorial, when youths get to be a certain age, they have to find a different place to settle. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. They justified this boost by claiming thatLocal cougar population densities exceed any documented in North America.(1)As of April, 2011 ODFWs website posted an estimate of more than 5,700 cougars residing in Oregon, and some hound-hunting proponents are even claiming the cougar population in Oregon has reached the 7,000 level. . Indeed, they are "shy," solitary creatures that spend the majority of their lives alone; cougars require large territories, between 100-300 square miles, which they defend from other cougars. - Cougars often will retreat if given the opportunity. Recent sightings include this one in Clackamas County where a cougar ran in front of a deputy's carand in Tigard, where multiple sightingshave been reported. This is a list of known or suspected fatal cougar attacks that occurred in North America by decade in chronological order.The cougar is also commonly known as mountain lion, puma, mountain cat, catamount, or panther.The sub-population in Florida is known as the Florida panther.. A total of 126 attacks, 27 of which were fatal, have been documented in North America in the past 100 years. Several factors can trigger a target area including the number of cougars being killed for livestock damage or public safety concerns in the area (indicating a high level of conflict once it reaches a certain threshold) and deer and elk populations falling below management objectives. Oregon allows controlled hunting of cougars. The state of Oregon encompasses 95,996 square miles of land. Your real name will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more! ODFW. Oregon is home to more than 6,000 cougars, or mountain lions. The settlers set up a ferocious predator removal effort of endless trapping and hunting. ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) Yellow signs at trailheads in Ecola and Fort Stevens state parks feature a drawing of a cougar and a blank space to write the date whenever the animal is spotted. The statewide population of cougars is growing, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Effects of Cougar Predation and Nutrition on Mule Deer Population Decline, (3), 23. Salem Oregon And surrounding area cougar sightings And Other Predators While Measure 18 initially reduced the numbers of cougars hunted, policy changes by ODFW, as well as the Oregon Legislature, have served to counteract the effects of Measure 18. A Community Event in Honor of Endangered Species Day! What wildlife means to you as an Oregon resident and your hopes that the Commission will support that. In the updated cougar management plan, there are maps of the coastal zone sprinkled with dots that represent the location of dead cougars cats killed by hunters, struck by cars, shot by wildlife managers after they threatened human or animal safety. By the late 1800s, the fur trade was essentially played out, fur-bearers depleted and Native Americans more dependent on outside food sources and no longer able to live off the land around which their entire cultures had been based. Most years these spaces remain empty, but state wildlife managers say cougar populations appear to be increasing elsewhere along the Oregon Coast, raising questions about what is and what could become cougar country. While individual cougars can be impacted, nothing indicates cougar populations are being threatened by the growing human populations and development, Broman said. National Park Service. Oregon Wild does its part to support cougar populations by fighting to protect the wilderness, forests, and water that cougars rely on. In 1994, cougar management took a turn when Measure 18, an initiative put on the ballot by Oregon citizens, was passed. In 1996, two years after the passage of Measure 18, ODFW placed the states cougar population at approximately 3,000 to 3,300 animals. . In response ODFW lengthened the hunting season to year-round in some regions, significantly reduced the cost of a cougar hunting tag for Oregon residents, increased annual hunting quotas, increased the bag limit, and issued an unlimited number of hunting tags. You would like the commission to reduce the 970 mortality limit to 12% of the 18-month and older cougar population. Employee Directory | Social Media | Oregon.gov | File Formats | Employee Webmail | ODFW License Agents First, ODFWs 1994 population estimate of 3,000 cougars is in dispute. However, with higher numbers of these predators comes increased conflict. Food of cougars in the Cascade Range of Oregon. A Predictive Population Model for Cougars in Oregon. ODFW closely tracks all cougars killed in Oregon. ODFW Home | Driving Directions | Non-Hunter Harvest numbers include depredation kills; administrative removals; public safety actions. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Contact 503-947-6042 or click here. Fence and shelter livestock. 541.344.0675 | Eugene office Why cant ODFW just bring back hound-hunting and let sporthunters with hounds control cougars? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Since then, it has seen its population grow to a small but steady 200 to 300 cougars. Its rare to see a cougar in Astoria. Employee Directory | Social Media | Oregon.gov | File Formats | Employee Webmail | ODFW License Agents Massachusetts Under ODFW's management, cougar hunting continued, aside from the years of 1968 and 1969, but was controlled through the issuing of hunting tags and demarcated hunting areas. These factors are outlined in the Cougar Management Plan. Be more cautious at dawn and dusk when cougars are most active. As of 6 p.m. Friday, the map showed icons for five carcasses and 16 each for bear and cougar sightings. Leave the animal a way to escape. Cougars typically consume a deer every week to ten days, and will hide large carcasses to feed off of for several days. Between 1918 and 1961 (Oregons recorded cougar bounty period) 6,762 cougar carcasses were turned in for a bounty. Males in particular are very territorial. Keep children close to you. @i The legislature may also meet in organizational sessions, the duration of which the constitution does not limit, in order to set legislative rules. Were previous cougar target areas successful? Research conducted in Oregon has indicated these populations are resilient and recover rather quickly from these targeted removals. Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? Share your opinion or comments on a Fish and Wildlife Commission issue at: odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov Anyone can go into the system and report sightings at. Toweill, D. E., & Meslow, E. C. (1977). where a cougar ran in front of a deputy's car, no strangers to development here in Oregon, a summer 2014 Oregonian/OregonLive report. Habitat: Cougars are throughout Oregon, with concentrations in the Cascade Rangeand Blue Mountains. ODFW estimates Oregon's current population of cougars to be at around 6,600. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. After three years of removing cougars, ODFW will assess whether or not the cougar target area had the desired effect and report these results to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in a public meeting. A change in mule deer populations was harder to detect, but hunter success rates and the number of older bucks taken by hunters both increased in Steens Mtn. However, with higher numbers of these predators comes increased conflict. (2003). Assuming adequate cover for movement and dispersal, there is no reason to doubt that cougars are capable of utilizing urban habitats in Oregon.. The footage shows the stocky animal scurrying down a snowy slope and crossing Highway 20 east of Santiam Pass. Cougar hunting in Oregon. Sleep 100 yards from cooking areas. It is possible that this disturbing trend of ever-increasing cougar population estimates has more to do with justifying policy decisions to kill more cougars than reliable scientific data. More than 43,000 tags were sold in 2009. 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE :: Salem, OR 97302 :: Main Phone (503) 947-6000 or (800) 720-ODFW [6339] R:D|M=$_(9;U4 /IaxM{ 4)Y/(~auZ{6vZML9#\{!9 =N;;ip0^Tz>]/{U #~(}84N[;M{X{>;q&#J3,;8$C"$72XkEkKa^I4tTvWdqK.kNQ,#FBz! Besides SOU, cougar sightings were also reported on the Bellview School and old Lincoln School campuses. . Cougars typically hunt between dusk and dawn. Volunteer agents must undergo background checks and training before doing any cougar removal work for ODFW and are not permitted to keep the carcass. Walk pets during the day and keep them on a leash. Also known as mountain lions or pumas, cougars are known for their strength, agility, and awesome ability to jump. `V@ They move as littledistance as they can until they find a place that suits their needs, and over time more areas become home to cougars. A recent estimate by ODFW claims the states mountain lion population has increased to 6,300 individuals. Features: Oregon is home to more than 6,000 cougars, or mountain lions. In July 2023, there will be the opportunity to submit public comments to the Commission regarding cougar hunting in the state. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? In the Redland area, a Clackamas County sheriff's deputy's dash . After a report from a property owner that he'd lost livestock to cougars, the State Fish and Game trapped two of the animals and euthanized them. For information on how to live with wildlife, visit these species pages: Bats | Beaver | Birds | Black Bears | Bobcats | Cougars | Coyotes | Deer and Elk | Frogs | Nutria | Osprey | Owls | Raccoons | Snakes | Tree Squirrels | Turkeys | Turtles | Wolves | Young Wildlife. A cougar can be identified by its large size, cat-like appearance, consistent tan or tawny body color, and long tail. 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